Snow removing mechanism



w. E. KLAUER snow REMOVING MECHANISM March 26, 1940.

Filed May 19, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet l March 26, 1940. w KLAUER 2,194,662

SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM Filed May 19, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 w. E. KLAUER' 2,194,662

SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM Filed May 19, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 26, 1940.

March 26, 1940. w. E. KLAUER SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet. 4

Filed May 19, 1937 in NW w. E. KLAUER 2,194,662 SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM March 26, 1940;

Filed May 19, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 3 Wu W Wa/lf Zmm/e r,

Mmh 26, 1940. E KLAugR 2,194,662

snow REMOVING MECHANISM Filed May 19, I937 7 sheets shet s March'26, 1940. w. E. KLAUER SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM Filed May 19, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheetv 7 zlivucnlo'n %/fer E WWI/6f, i Q

Patented Mar. 26, ll "1;

snow amovmc monmsm Walter E. KlauenDubuque, Iowa" Application May 19, 1931, Serial No. 148,613 a 4 Claims. (o1. 31-43) The present invention relates to snow removing mechanism, and particularly to such mechanism as is adapted for use in removing snow from streets and highways. In particular, it concerns a snow removal chute or hood for a snow plow which chute has for its purpose the directing of the snow removed from the highway to one side thereof or into a truck.

' The present invention may, for example, be

used in connection with the constructionshown and described in my copending application Serial No. 95.688, filed August 12, 1936, now Patent truck or to one side of the highway. Its use is No. 2,144,311. In that application the snow removal mechanism is disposed in front of a motor truck and is provided with a fan casing provided with a blower. The snow asflit meets the plow is broken up by an auger and directed to the blower by which it is discharged in an upward direction. The purpose of thesnow removal chute ofthe present invention is'to direct the snow as it comes from the blower either into a of particular advantage where it is not permissible to blow the snow to the side of the street or on the sidewalk. i Y

The chute is generally comprised-of a curved trough, channel-shaped in cross-section. So that more accurate direction of the removed snow can be effected the chute is provided with a tip member the position of which may be adjusted bythe operator of the-plow. I The primary object of the present invention is to provide a snow removalchute with [such an adjustable tip, the position of" which may be controlled by the operator.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- "[vide a chute with an adjustable tip which may be controlled through fluid pressure means operable from the cab of the motor truck to which the plow is secured. I

In mycopending application Serial No."95,688,'

'- the snow removal mechanism, as described, is

provided with a blower in a fan casing. This fancasing is mounted for movementabout an axis and its position may be controlled through fluid 1 pressure meansby the operator of the-plow from the'cab of the motor truck. The present inventionfhas for another object the "employment of this fluid pressure means also for -the.purpos e of controlling the tip of the snow removal hood.

Still another object of theinvention resides in providing snow removing mechanism at the front of a motor truck in such a manner as to permit vertical up and down movement of the same and SHOW.

Other objects of the invention become more apparent from the-followingdescription and appended claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a frontelevation view of the invention; I l

Fig. 1A is an enlarged front elevation of the tip member; 1

Fig. 1B is a left side elevational view of Fig...

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of'the invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing 'the manner which the snow removal.mechanism is secured tothe frontofatruck;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the arrangement shown Fig. 5 isa 'cross-section on the line-5- .-5 of 5 Fig. 6 is a top plan' 'view of the -fluid pressure control for :thespout ofthe'fan casing and for the tip of the chute;

Fig. 7 is an end B- Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the unitary frame;

Fig. 9 is a front view of oneside of the mecha- I view of the mechanism of nismwfor lifting, guiding and ql alizmgtthe snow removal mechanismwith the snow remover dis connected; t Fig. 10 is a top plansview of one side of the mechanism with-partsbroken away; and, i

Fig. 11 is a cross-fsection -on the line. l.i--ll of Fig. 9. v.

1 Referring now to; 1', the snowremoval mechanism proper is-g'ener'ally indicated bythe" reference characterA; The blower which receives the snow from:.the-snow.removal .mechanism and. expelsitin-an upward direction is indicated by the reference; numeral and is shown 1 in dot-dash linesm The snow .removal hood or chute is comprised .ofgfour. sections 2. 4. 16 and 8 which in cross-section.areqchannel shaped and 50.

"which form a. directing trough for the'snow.

The section .4 is of. slightly,.--larger cross section than the section 2 so as to telescope thereover when thechute is in folded position as described in my copending application of even date. The '55 cross-section of the section 8 is larger than that of 4, and that of'section 8 larger than that of 8. From Fig. 1 it will be apparent'that snow ejected from'the blower 46 will be directed in a curved line to the right by the'snow removal hood or chute.

For the purposes of the present application, it is not necessary to describe specifically the means used for bracing and supporting the snow removal chute and holding it in upright operative position. This is described in my copending application, filed herewith. Since, however, the present invention is concerned with the adjustability of the tip 8 of the chute it will be necessary to describe briefly the means used for controlling this tip section.

It will be noted that the section 8 is provided with diagonal bracing members on its sides, one of which is shown in Fig. 1 and indicated by the reference numeral 42. The upper ends of these bracing members extend beyond the section-and are provided with aligned openings (not shown). The end tip section 8 is also provided with diagonal bracing members These members extend beyond the tip section and their extended portions have aligned apertures 52 as shown in Figs. 1A and 1B. The sections 6 and 8 are joined by a pivotal connection so that the position of the tip section can be adjusted as will be described. The pivotalconnection may be effected by passing an axle 51 through the aligned apertures 52 in the tip section and also through.the aligned apertures in the extended ends of the diagonal bracing members 42 of the section 6.

The top of the casing of the snow removal mechanism A is provided with a plate 58 which is rigidly secured thereto. Pivoted on this plate as at 88 is a double armed lever 58. The upper arm thereof is connected by means of a rod 82 to an arm 84 which, in turn is rigidly mounted on an axle 31 which extends across the back of the chute from one side to the other. There are two arms 84, one on each end of the axle 31 and these arms are connected at their outer ends by means of rods 88 to arms 88 which in turn are pivoted about an axle 3|. The reference numeral I8 represents rods or arms, one on each side of the chute, which are connected to the end of the arms 88, and the outer ends of the rods or arms I8 are provided with notches and with pivoted notch members II which are adapted to engage pins I2 extending laterally from the sides of the tip 8 of the snow removal chute or hood and connecting the sides with arms 54 (see Fig. 1B). and notch members is shown and described in my copending case of even date. The rods or arms I8 are prevented from lateral displacement on the pins I2 by meansrof the arms 54. The

notches provide means whereby the rods I8 if desired may bedisen'gaged from the pins I2. The tip end 8 of the snow removal chute or hood is pivoted. about an axle 51 which passes through the apertures 52. i

It should now be apparent that movement of the lower arm of the double armed lever 58 to the left will result in raising the tipped section 8 of the snow removal chute upwardly about its pivot 51 in a counter-clockwise direction. Movement of the lower arm of the double armed lever 58 to the right will result in lowering the tip end section 8 of the snow removal chute in a clockwise direction about its pivot point 51. The ex-- act angle at which snow is shot out from thesnow removal hood is thus controlled.

The specific construction of the notches The snow remover as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 is carried at the front of a motor truck or the like by a frame having transverse front, top and bottom members 82 and 83, transverse rear top and bottom members 94 and 85, top side members 81, vertical members 88 and horizontal bottom members 88 which support the end of the scraper 48 forming the bottom portion of the wall of the auger casing.

.I provide a unitary frame which may be easily applied to and removed from a truck for carrying the snow remover and the mechanism for manipulating the same (Fig. 8). This supporting and guiding unitary frame for the plow includes a front cross member I82 adapted to be secured by bolts I84 (Fig. 9) to the front cross piece I83 of the chassis and side plates I88 adapted to be secured by bolts I88 (Fig. 18) to the side frame members I88 of the chassis. The .cross member I82 has secured thereto and above it another cross member II2 which extends out beyond the sides of the chassis frame. It will be noted that member 2 also extends rearwardly slightly beyond member I82, and that this extension rests on the top of front chassis member I83 (Fig. 11) In this fashion the chassis member supports the weight of the snow remover directly and the whole load thereof is not carried by the bolts.

Both the members I82 and H2 are angle irons. The side members I86 extend forwardly of the chassis frame and of the cross member I82 and at their forward endssupport vertically arranged T-shaped rails having web portions '4, bolted to the extensions II5 of the side plates, and cross portions or flanges II 6. Plates I28 are secured to and extend downwardly from the ends of the cross member H2, and angle members I 28 are 'secured. to the side pieces .I86. The parts of this frame are preferably both riveted and welded together, so that the whole frame, acts as a unit which may be'secured bodily to the truck and will serve as the connection between the snow remover and the vehicle.

Guide blocks or slide members 8 are provided with T-shaped slots I28 (Fig. which fit over the arms of the T rails H4 and thus the blocks II8 are guided thereby for vertical sliding movement. Pins I22 pass through the blocks I8 and through the arms or'brackets I24 secured on the cross member 84 of the plow frame,

serted pins I38 on which are pivotally mounted blocks I32 supporting transverse pins I34. The pins I34 provide pivots for fluid pressure cylinders I38, one on each side of the snow remover, in which are slidably arranged pistons I38.

Secured to the frame side members I86 at points to the rear of the front cross chassis member are uprights I48, which are braced by links I42 connected at one end to the uprights and at the other end to the ends of the transverse member -II2. Pivoted to the upper end of the uprights are beams or links I44 (Fig. 3), preferably I beams.. These beams carry blocks I48 to which are pivoted the pistons I38 and links I48 which at their outer ends are traversed by the pins I22 in the neighborhood of the outer brackets I24.

0! course one of these lifting devices is provided on each side of the plow, and the outer ends of the beams iii are connected by a spacer and itwill always remain in proper position and will i not get, out of line.

The fluid pressure cylinders tee with fluid under pressure through flexible pipes itt (Figs. 2 and 3 releasable connections iii-i and pipes use. Pipes wt are connected to a valve chest (not shown) in which is a valve controlled by linkage system itt through a handle it? located in the cab or the truck. The details of this valve form no part of the invention and it is sufficient to state that when the valve is moved to one position the piston will be caused to rise, while in the other position it will drop. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the valve chest from a fluid supply tank at any suitable place in the truck.

The fan casing $6 is mounted to rotate, for example, in the manner shown in the Wandscheer Patent No. 1,886,069. It is important to be abl to shift the position of the spout 48 from one side to the other of the snow remover so that the direction of the stream of snow may be changed. This is of particular advantage when the snow remover is used in the country. In such a case the snow hood need not be used, the snow being discharged by the blower or fan to th side of the highway. For this purpose, I provid a fluid pressure device for controlling the position of the fan casing. A lever (not shown), in the cab of the truck, through a slidable lever and linkage system (not shown) controls a valve in a valve'box supplied with fluid under pressur from a reservoir. Pipes 202 extend from this reservoir to the frontof the truck and are connected through couplings 204 to flexible hoses 208.

Mounted on the cross member 94 is a bracket 208, (Fig. 6) which carriesa pin 2l0 supporting one end of a hydraulic cylinder 2l2. The member 94 also supports a pair of spaced U-shaped rails 2 between which slides a cross head 2l8. A piston slidable in the cylinder 2l2 has an extension 2l8 which is connected by a pin 22!! to the cross head 2 IS. A pin 222 carried by the cross head 2l8 forms a. pivot for one end of a link 224 which at its other end engages a pivot pin 226 fixed in the rear wall of the fan casing. Pipes 206 on opposite sides of the plow are connected respectively to pipes 228 and 230 opening into opposite ends of the cylinder 2l2. It is evident that by admitting fluid under pressure to one side or the'other of the piston, the cross head 2 l6,

will be'caused to move and willshift the spout wall of the tan. casing and by connecting it to direction of the discharged snow is eflected. are supplied portion theposition of which is capable of adthe lower arm of the double-armed lever 58 (see Fig. 1).

It will be manifest with such an arrangement that by admitting fluid under pressure to one side or the other of the piston cylinder M2, the

cross head 2 I 6 will be caused to move and through the link 2% will swing the double-armed lever 58 one way or the other about its pivot 60. This in turn, through th linkage system 62, 6d, and it, will result in tilting the end tip section 8 of the chute about its pivot 51. The position of the tip section is thus controlled by fluid pressure by the operator of the plow from the cab of the motor truck and a more accurate control of the Obviously changes may be made in the structure without departing from the inventive concept. For example, it is within the scope of this invention to employ mechanical or electrical means for controlling the chute tip, and I do not intend to be limited to the exact constructions illustrated and described except as by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A snow removing apparatus, comprising, snow discharge means the position of which is capabl of adjustment, means for directing the snow to said discharge means, snow gui means disposed to receive snow from said dis-2 charge means, said snow guiding means having a tip section the position of which is capable of ..adjustment, and fluid pressure means for selecfor removing snow in the vicinity of the vehicle and for ejecting said snow through said spout, snow guiding means disposed above said spout to receive snow from the same, said guiding means having a tip portion the position of which is capable of adjustment, fluid pressure operating mechanism, and means to connect said mechanism selectively to said spout and to said guiding means.

3. A snow removing apparatus mounted on a vehicle, comprising, a snow discharge spout the position of which is capable of adjustment, means forv removing snow from the path of the vehicle and for ejecting the same through said spout, a trough-shaped snow guiding chute disposed above said spout to receive the snow ejected therefrom, said chute being comprised of a plurality of sections, the tip section being mounted for adjustability of position, a linkage system'for controlling the position of said tip section, fluid pressure mechanism, and means to. connect said mechanism selectively to said spout and to said 

